cuts in nia's cancer researchers, 8% cuts for air traffic controllers, border security and even the fbi. if lawmakers can't reach a compromise, they'll all take effect january 3rd. the white house says half the cuts will come from domestic programs and half from defense spending. the ranking member of the house budget committee congressman chris van hollen of maryland says there's a lot at stake. >> it would be devastating to the economy and hurt very important investments like the national institutes of health and the research going on there, air traffic controllers. all the ongoing functions of government would see a buzzsaw cut. >> reporter: the sequester cuts were triggered after the supercommittee failed to reach a budget deal. they'll take effect january 3rd unless congress enacts legislation to replace them. >> you have to raise taxes and cut spending. >> the two sides seem miles apart. no one expects a deal to go through before the election. >> so our view is we have should follow the approach that bipartisan groups have recommended, which is a mix of cuts, but also eliminating